Dendrimer-based strategies for cancer therapy: Recent advances and future perspectives

Abstract

This review reports some recent advances on the use of dendrimer-based systems for cancer therapy. Dendrimers are emerging as promising carriers or stabilizers for drugs and nanoparticles (NPs) due to their highly branched 3-dimensional globular shape, internal hydrophobic cavity and multiple peripheral functional groups. The fabricated nanoplatforms loaded with therapeutic agents such as drugs, siRNAs or NPs can be further modified to have targeting specificity, antifouling properties and good biocompatibility. In particular, recent advances in the surface modifications of dendrimers and the application of dendrimers as versatile platforms for different therapeutic treatments to cancer including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and combination therapy will be introduced in detail.